Posted May 3, 2022 in New Arrivals
UPDATE (MAY 2022): Our Kirk’s Dik-dik calf has been confirmed as male and named Patch by our Animal Care Team.
Kirk’s dik-dik, Pumpkin, has become a first-time mum after giving birth to her calf at 4:30pm on 20th April 2022.
We are delighted to report that shortly after birth the calf was standing well on its feet and attempted to feed from Pumpkin almost instantly. Both mum and calf are doing well with the calf growing stronger each day!
Pumpkin has taken well to her new role as a parent and is being very attentive to her calf who is yet to be sexed and named. Unlike Pumpkin, the calf’s dad, Demetri, is an experienced dad and still shares his home with one of his daughters, Carol, who was born 19th December 2021.
Photos by ©Tom Smith and ©Jamie Reeve
The Kirk’s dik-dik is one of the smallest members of the antelope family, measuring a maximum of 45cm high at the shoulder with a maximum body length of just 80cm! This species comes from eastern and southwest Africa and likes to eat shoots, twigs, leaves, fruits and flowers. In the wild, they are so well adapted to the conditions of the African bush that they do not need to drink. Instead, they get all the water they need from the plants they eat! On the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species the Kirk’s dik-dik is classed as ‘Least concern’.
On your next visit do stop by to see if you can spot the family of Kirk’s dik-dik here at Colchester Zoo down at Edge of Africa.
